Île-aux-Moines

Île-aux-Moines Enizenac'h
The island lies in the Gulf of Morbihan
Coat of arms
Île-aux-Moines
Location within Brittany region Île-aux-Moines
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Brittany
Department	Morbihan
Arrondissement	Vannes
Canton	Vannes-Ouest
Intercommunality	Pays de Vannes
Government
• Mayor (2008—2014)	Jean Pressard
Area1	3.20 km2 (1.24 sq mi)
Population (1999)2	610
• Density	190/km2 (490/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	56087 / 56780
Elevation	−1–31 m (−3.3–101.7 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Île-aux-Moines (Enizenac'h in Breton; the name means island of the monk(s)) is a commune in the Morbihan department in the region of Brittany in north-western France.

It is the largest island in the Gulf of Morbihan. It is one of two island communes of the Gulf, the other being Île-d'Arz.

Geography

Île-aux-Moines lies in the Gulf of Morbihan. It is 7 km (4.3 mi) by 5 km (3.1 mi), with an area of 3.1 square kilometres. It is in the shape of cross and nowhere on the island lies further than 450 metres from the water.

Access from the mainland is possible from Larmor-Baden or Port-Blanc.

History

Île-aux-Moines has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, as attested by the dolmens and other relics.

In 854, the then king of Brittany, Erispoe, gave a donation to the Abbey of Saint-Conwoïon in Redon, created by his father Nominoe. This became storage space of the abbey.

After the Norman invasions of the 10th century. the island was handed back to the parish of Arradon.

In 1453, it was given the status of parish.

In 1792 it became a commune in its own right.

Demographics

Inhabitants of Île-aux-Moines are called Ilois.

Monuments

There are many megalithic relics on the south side:

• The cromlech of Kergonan, in the middle of the island, with a radius of more than 70 metres, is one of Europe's biggest.
• The dolmen of Penhap, 5 kilometres from the main town, is the most well-conserved on the island.
• Crucifices can be found at Trec'h, Brouel and Le Nioul, as well as on Kerno.
• The St Michel Chapel

See also

• Communes of the Morbihan department

External links

• Official website
• Photos, Guided Tours, Ancient Postcards, Decorated Mailboxes, etc...
• French Ministry of Culture list for Île-aux-Moines (French)
• Map of Île-aux-Moines on Michelin (English)